On May 24 Alexander Avendaño Varela boarded a party boat at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, Colombia but what should have been a fun trip ended in disaster
A 22-year-old partygoer has drowned in a reservoir after being allegedly forced over the edge of a boat following a scuffle.
On May 24 Alexander Avendaño Varela boarded a party boat at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, Colombia but what should have been a fun trip ended in disaster. Shocking footage shows an altercation taking place on board, for reasons that remain unclear, among a large group of young revellers.
The group were pushing and shouting and at one point, Alexander Avendaño Varela appeared, cornered at the edge of the deck and missing his trousers and trainers. A scuffle broke out between Alexander and other partygoers but seconds later, the visibly frightened young man went over the railing and into the water.
Struggling to swim he thrashed his arms around before disappearing beneath the surface moments later.Nobody jumped in to rescue Alexander, and the boat continued on its route.
A large search operation was launched, involving at least 14 divers, as reported by NeedToKnow. However, deep water and poor visibility hampered efforts, and Alexander’s body was recovered several days later.
Since the clip emerged on social media, authorities have been working to determine whether anyone could face criminal charges. Some in the recording could be heard warning that Alexander, originally from Medellín, did not know how to swim, while others shouted: “Drown him!”
None of those on board appeared to be wearing life jackets, despite mandatory safety requirements on tourist boats due to a history of drowning incidents.
The Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, which covers more than 2,262 hectares and reaches depths of up to 45m (148ft), is one of Colombia’s best-known tourist destinations. Around 50 people are believed to have drowned in the reservoir over the past decade, and swimming is prohibited.
Investigators continue to gather testimonies from those who attended the party.
